Window head construction or the like



Oct. 3, 1939. H. CUNIN 'INDOW HEAD CONSTRUCTION OR THE LIKE Filed March 20, 1939 HYMAN CUNIN (kw/M Patented Oct. 3, 1939 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,175,110 WINDOW HEAD CONSTRUCTION on THE LIKE Hyman Cunin, Washington, D. 0. Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 262,973

7 Claims. (01. 72 59) This invention relates in general to building, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of constructions for window and door frames and Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; deals, more particularly, with improved head 7 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a structures therefor embodying various forms of portion of Fig. 1 showing the improved lintel as lintels designed to prevent water leakage to the positioned spanning the window opening prepar- 5 inside of the wall and otherwise adapted to direct atory to the building of the super-structure shedded water to the outside of the wall to disthereon;

charge in the area of the door or window opening. Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary perspective view A primary object of the invention is to provide showing another form of lintel structure embodya head structure of this character comprising a ing individual flange dev c 1 lintel having the combined purpose of a load F 5 s a ew s a to 3 ShOWing bearing structural member spanning the top of ther embodiment of the invention comprisi a the door or window opening to carry the super- P Of Simple angle sections p d in P- structure, and, also serving as a, means directing erative relation t0 provide a unitary lintel strucdischarge of rain or other shedded water to the fillrai e e a d, 15 area of such opening in preventing objectionable Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a window head conleakage of such water around the door or window struetien embodying the lintel Structure Of frame t th in id of th ll, The several forms of lintel structures disclosed Another object of the invention is for the proherein a Shown C nect on With the usual 20. vision of .such a head structure comprising a m f brick Wall construction but it is to be lintel serving as a load bearing structural mem-. appreciated that The Same are equally adaptable ber and. provided with substantial flanges 6. to use in similar constructions employing various signed to prevent shedded water from running off other forms of building ia s Such as reinthe ends thereof into the surrounding wall and forced Concrete, Stone, tiling and t e like, hotherwise direct such water to throw off between 9 departing from the Spirit and Scope of the 25 such flanges to be effectively discharged outward- Invention- 1 t d of t 11 Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 A still furtherobject contemplates the proviincluSiVe 0f the w a preferred form of sion of such a head structure employing a lintel i designated g e a ly is shown in assoso, which may be readily embodied in the usual brick ciatien with a brick Wall I having aewindow frame or other masonry wall construction without re- Openmg 2 mounting a Window frame 0f quiring any material change therein or disturb any selected form comprising, for example, head ing the customary formation in which bricks are blocks 4 and a casing 5 provided With ny uitlaid in building a conventional brick wall.. able type 015 melding 0n the inner side of the another object is for the provision of a which is usually Ofi plaster 1, lintel structure of the type described comprising tiling, or the like. a plurality of simple, component parts which b Seen Flgs- 2 and a pre erred form may be readily mcorporatedinto a unitary strucof l1ntel according to this invention comprises an ture which is strong and durable and capable of n Steel Substantial g er f generally W- 40 inexpensive manufacture to be available to the shaped Cross-Section and of a Size and thickness 40 trade at comparatively 1 cost proportionate to the loads and strains to be im- Further objects and advantages of the invenposedthereen-r More p y, he lintel is tion and other new and useful features in the constructed in the manner of a horizontal base construction, arrangement and general combinasection II continuing to a Vertical section [2 tion of the parts thereof will be readily apparent and an intermediate horizontal section I3 which 45 t those Skmed i t n; as t following in turn continues ina top vertical section l4. On scription proceeds with reference to the accomhe ge e y p d der thus provided, panying drawings in which like reference charsubstantial flanges l5, l6, are secured in suitable acters designate like parts throughout the same, sp d relation, Preferably at the ends e f, ;and in which: as by welding H, or any other selected fastening 5 Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view means such as rivets, b mastic the like, of a portion of a building showing the outer ap- Capable of Providing Substantially g t pearance of a window opening embodying a preconnections of the flanges to the girder. Such ferred form of the improved lintel structure of flanges are extremely simple 1n construction and the present invention; may be produced in various forms at very low 5 rolled iron and steel or sheet metal. Preferably such a flange is provided as a substantial platelike element having its lower edge surface of a stepped formation corresponding to that of the girder such that it may be precisely fitted thereto to provide a close, water-tight connection by the welding or other securing means, as aforesaid.

Thus the lintel assumes the form of a unitary structural member having a generally stepped formation which may be readily embodied in substantially interlocked relation in the usual wall structure with little or no change from the cus tomary methods of construction simply by building the wall at the top of the window openingwith a substantial stepped surface, as; shown in Fig. 3, corresponding substantially to the Contour of the underside of the lintel-"The lintelis then most effectively seated on such surface of the wall and bridging the window opening 2, as shown, whereupon the building of the superstructure to be carried thereby. may be expedi-- tiously proceeded; with in. completing the wall structure..

Inasmuch as the .top surface of the lintel is open and of generally stepped formation, the immediately adjacent bricks or other material of the superstructuremay be readily built thereon in providing the aforesaid interlocked relation of the lintel in. the completed Wall construction whereby it is positively andfirmly held against displacement in anydirection. Thus the lintel-is held against inward. displacement bythe bricks [8, Fig. .3, comprising the inner portion of the wall at the top of the window opening in direct engagement with the rear face of vertical section is of the lintel. Likewise, outward shifting movement of the lintel in a completed wall construction is prevented by the bricks I9, 20, Fig. 2, carried thereby and directly engaging the upper surfaces of. the vertical lintel sections l2, l4 respectively. Endwise movement of the lintel in either direction is prevented by the end flanges H3, IE, on either side of which the bricks of the super structure are laid, as will be understood from the dotted line showing of Fig. l representing-themsition of such flanges ina completed wall construction.

A most important feature of this form oflintel structure resides in the provision of the end flanges l5, it of such configuration and design as to permit the same to be built into a completed wall construction without in anyway disturbing the customary staggered formation in which the bricks are laid. Accordingly, asshown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that brick 2l of the wall directly overlying the flange for example, is suitably clipped as indicate'dat 22, Fig, 2,'such that the same will clear the free edge of such flange and thus be capable of being precisely embodied in the conventional staggered formation in which the bricks are laid in the completed wall construction. The outer appearance of the wall,

therefore, is in no manner detracted from and since the spaces intermediate adjoining bricks are cost in the manner of inexpensive stampings from lintel construction of this character which overcomes all the insufliciencies of known prior conv 'structions att'he least possible cost.

The flanges l5, IE, on the lintel are suitably spaced from either side of the window opening as shown in Fig. 3 and thus provide a substantial receptacle into which water flowing from the super-structure above the door or window opening will be collected and be prevented from running on the ends of the lintel into the area of the wall surrounding. the window opening. where it would tend to seep through. and dampen the inside of the wall. Accordingly, any water collected between such flanges l5, It will naturally havea tendency to flow down. the stepped formation of the lintel'to the lower horizontal section I I thereof, which as shown. in Fig. 2, has its free edge in the area of the window opening 2 and will, of course, discharge such shedded water outwardly outsidethe wall.

-Fig. 4 showsla further embodiment of the invention in which a generally W-shaped. lintel of the character described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive is employed with an alternate form of flange means provided byindividualsubstantial angle plates 30,-3l, and. 32,33. These angle plates are constructed of. any suitable ma terial suchas iron, steel or sheet metalmaterial and are arranged on the lintel in a manner to dispose the respective free flanges 34, 35,. and 36, 31, thereof in suitable offset relation to precisely fit in the arrangement of the bricks of the superstructure which. may then be readily built up on thelintel without departing from the usual staggered formation oflthebricks-in the completed wall construction. Such angle plates may be rigidly secured to the lintelby any suitable means such as welding, riveting, etc. but inasmuch as the same are provided as individual elements they J are preferably united to the lintelby a suitable form. of mastic applied over a substantial area of'the side and bottom surfaces thereof seated against the adjacent vertical andhorizontalsecti'ons, respectively, of the lintel. It will accordingly be appreciated that the said flanges34, 35 and:'36, '31, serve in a manner similar to-those described in the previous form of the invention, to prevent shedded water from above the window opening from running off the ends of the lintel into the surrounding wall area, and .otherwise direct such water down the stepped surface of the lintel to the free edge of the lower horizontal section I la thereof where it is readily discharged in the area-of the window opening outwardly outside the wall.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate another formof the invention wherein the lintel structure is provided by'a pair ofangle sections 46, 4|, arranged'one upon the other in offset relation, as best'seen in Fig. 6, with the horizontal portion of the'upper angle section 40 overlying the adjacent'vertical portion of angle section 4| to provide the generally W-shaped girder arrangement which may be readily embodied in the ordinary wall construe-- tion, substantially as set forth with respectto the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3. inclusive. This arrangement embodying a pair of separate angle sections isparticularly advantageous in installations in which cost is a deciding factor sincesuch angle sections are usually ,of stock dimensions andtherefore may be obtained at comparatively low cst., v v Q i In a lintel structure. of this character, a substantially water-tight bond therebetween can be obtained by employing a mastic or the like, between the top edge of the verticalportion of angle section 4!, and the overlying horizontal portion of angle section Mi. The flanges maybe provided by suitable plate elements individually secured to the separate angle sections, 4%, 4|, by welding, riveting or the like, or otherwise provided for in the use of substantial angle plates similar to those shown and described with reference to Fig. 4, and accordingly, in a completed wall construction, such flanges 36, 35 would assume the form substantially as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, showing in detail the general type of window head construction set forth in the description of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2.

An alternate construction of this form of the invention contemplates welding together the two angle sections preferably in the area in which the horizontal portion of angle section 40 overlies the vertical portion of angle section 4!, thus providing a unitary structural member of the same character as the one-piece, generally W- shaped type shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The end flanges therefor may then be provided either by means of individual angle plates as shown in Fig. 5, or in the manner of simple, inexpensive platelike elements similar to the flanges l5, [6, Fig. 3, and which when welded or otherwise secured to the pair of angle sections serve to reinforce and strengthen the lintel structure thus provided.

While this invention has been described in detail with specific examples such examples are illustrative only, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may be constructed without departing from the teaching or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a wall construction of the class described, a combined lintel and flashing spanning a door or window frame opening provided in said wall, said lintel comprising a load bearing structural member of generally W-shaped cross-section and presenting a stepped bearing surface adapted to seat on a substantially corresponding stepped area of said wall to span said opening, said lintel supporting the super-structure of said wall built up thereon over the window opening and being substantially interlocked in the completed wall construction, and flanges on said lintel adapted to prevent shedded water from above the window opening from running off the ends thereof into the area of the wall adjacent said window open- 2. In a wall construction of the class described, a combined lintel and flashing spanning a door or window frame openingprovided-in said wall, said lintel comprising a, load bearing structural member of generally W-shaped cross-section and presenting, a stepped bearing surface adapted to seat on a sub-stantially corresponding stepped area of said wall to span said opening,- said lintel supporting the super-structure of said wall built up thereon over the window opening and being substantially interlockedv in the completed wall construction, and flanges spaced apart on said lintel'on either side of the window opening for preventing shedded water from above the window cpeningfrom running off the ends thereof into the surrounding area of the wall and to direct such water to the area of the window. openingto discharge outwardly outside the Wall.

3. In a wall construction of the class described, a combined lintel and flashing spanning a door or window frame opening provided in said wall, said lintel comprising a load bearing structural member of general W-shaped cross-section and presenting a stepped bearing surface adapted to seat on a substantially corresponding stepped area of said wall to span said opening, said lintel supporting the super-structure of said wall built up thereon over the window opening and being substantially interlocked in the completed wall construction, and flanges on said lintel adapted to prevent shedded water from above the window opening from running off the ends thereof into the adjacent area of the wall, said flanges being arranged in offset relation to direct such shedded water down the stepped surface of the lintel to discharge in the area of said window opening outside said wall.

4. In a brick wall construction of the class described, a combined lintel and flashing spanning a door or window frame opening provided in said wall, said lintel comprising a load bearing structural member of generally W-shaped crosssection and presenting a stepped bearing surface adapted to seat on a substantially corresponding stepped area formed by the bricks of said wall to span said opening, said lintel supporting the super-structure of said wall built up thereon over the window opening and being substantially interlocked in the completed wall construction, and flanges on said lintel adapted to prevent shedded water from above the window opening from running off the ends thereof into surrounding area of. the wall, said flanges being arranged to direct such shedded water down the stepped surface of the lintel to discharge in the area of said window opening outside said wall, those bricks of the wall directly overlying the flanges being formed to clear the extremities thereof in preserving the general staggered formation in which the bricks are laid in the completed wall construction.

5. In a wall construction of the class described, a combined lintel and flashing spanning a door or window frame opening provided in said wall, said lintel comprising a load bearing structural member of generally W-shaped cross-section and presenting a stepped bearing surface adapted to seat on a substantially corresponding stepped area of said wall and bridge said opening, said lintel being provided with spaced apart flanges and supporting the super-structure of said wall built up thereon over the window opening, said flanges being provided by substantial angle plates secured to the lintel in offset relation, said lintel being substantially interlocked in the completed wall construction and said flanges being adapted to direct shedded water from the super-structure to i-the area of the windowopening to discharge outwardly outside-said wall.

6. 'In a wall construction'ofithemass-described, a combined linteland flashing spanning a door or window frame opening provided in said wall, said lintel comprising a pairof. angle sections disposed one upon the other in offset relation to provide a load bearing structural member of generally W-shaped cross-section, said lintel supporting-the super-structure of said wall built upthereon over the window opening and being provided with spacedapart flanges adapted to direct shedded water fromthe super-structure to the areaof the window opening to discharge outwardly outside said wall. 

